FALL RIVER — Since nurses went from wearing all-white uniforms years ago to the myriad colors of scrubs they wear today, patients have had a hard time identifying their nurse from their nursing assistant — or from housekeeping, phlebotomy, or therapy staffers.

At Saint Anne’s Hospital, there’s a new “rainbow of care,” and it’s all due to the feedback of patients and family members.

The new caregiver ID program has assigned a color to each profession so patients, families, and hospital employees can readily identify job title by color code.

For patients and families: “It’s nice to know who you’re talking to,” said Donna Rebello, a registered nurse and the director of the hospital’s St. Mary’s unit. “The feedback has been excellent.”

The idea came to fruition when the Patient and Family Advisory Council made the recommendation to the Professional Practice Council, a representative council of hospital employees.

“We want them to be able to bring us their ideas and improve things that need improving,” Rebello said. “They know that they can impact change.”

Rebello said the new caregiver ID program helps hospital employees identify one another, but even more than that: “The big thing is the patients and families.”

Registered nurse Matt Vaillancourt coined the slogan, a “rainbow of care.” He said it’s an advantage for patients and their visiting family members.

“The amount of traffic in and out of a room during a shift is pretty heavy,” Vaillancourt said. “It has made it easier.”

The Patient and Family Advisory Council group that spearheaded the effort has been active at Saint Anne’s Hospital since it became a requirement of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health four years ago.

There is a similar group at Charlton Memorial Hospital, as well as all other hospitals in the state, all working to improve patient experience.

At Saint Anne’s, the 13-member group meets every other month to present ideas and find solutions to problems.

Stanley Sikora recently attended his first council meeting. He said he joined after his mother, who has since passed away, had a hospital stay.

“There were a number of issues that came up,” Sikora said. “There were gaps that needed to be filled.”

Sikora is hoping the council can help spread the word about what a health care proxy is all about.

Another council member took issue with hospital name badges.

“A family sees what we don’t see,” said registered nurse Kathy Finn, the group’s staff liaison. “This is the voice of patients and families talking to staff.”

Page 2 of 2 - According to group materials, the benefits of becoming a council member include gaining an awareness and understanding of the health care system; advocating for family, friends and the organization; creating patient-family centered care; and improving patient satisfaction.

The Patient and Family Advisory Council is currently seeking new members and welcomes diversity.